I am getting fed up with continual wheel cleaning due to brake dust. Has anybody used low-dust pads ?I know there are the EBC red and green pads, but I believe there are other makes out there. Textar make low dust pads but they only seem to cover the main German makes.

 

Hi Fraser,

Use the Advanced Search function under the Tools tab above to search for the brand name Akebono in the X350/X358 forum. A number of our members have reported good results with the Akebono ceramic pads. I may give them a try myself on my next pad change. I'm using OE Mintex pads; they perform well but produce prodigious amounts of dust that is difficult to keep up with.

I'll be very curious to hear which pads you decide to try and how you like them.

Cheers,

Don

 

I've tried low dust ceramic pads and hated them. OEM style Jurid or Pagid will create a dust storm, but the stopping performance is so much better. I'd rather deal with the dust.

 

Ya gotta love these first world problems of keeping the wheels of your Jag clean...lol...

 

I had Akebono's on mine. No noticeable difference in braking. Problem solved.

 

I'm hoping the redstuff ones are as good, because I just ordered those all the way around...

 

So it seems a toss-up between Akebonos and EBC Redstuff, but I can't find anybody selling Akebonos in the UK. There are also the EBC Greenstuff pads too. Texstar claim to make low dust pads called ePads, but where do you buy them ?

 

I too have chrome wheels on both my Mercedes and Super V/8. Both have ceramic pads at all 4 corners. NO brake dust! like any new pad, you must "bed" them in. Drive up to 40 MPH and stop rather quickly, then do it again. They also say to drive up to 40 or so with your foot resting on the pedal. I wish I could tell you the brand but they were on the Jag at purchase and the Mercedes pads came with the slotted rotors via Ebay from E LINE.

 

I found myself with the same problem as you, i always cleaned my wheels but seemed to always be looking at dirty wheels the next day. I have used the EBC RedStuff and Akebono both on my 04' X350 and was very happy with the results of both. I don't recall any issues with the EBC's but I've been running the Akebono pads exclusively for a while now.

 

I second the motion on Akebonos. Excellent braking and virtually no dust. Remains to be seen if they last as long as others, but I'm so happy with the clean wheels that I don't care!

Ray

 

Fyi, I bought/used the Sonax stuff & it's REALLY good. I bought a 170ounces/5Ltr for $72 on eBay.

But here's a question, but did all you guys changes front & rear to ceramic, or just the front, being that's where the dust usually happens?..

 

Fraser - hope you get your pads sorted / changed and are happier at some point with them, but surely, it's all part of the process?
Ie - It's designed in as it were, the pads are softer than the discs ( an engineered weak point ) and designed to wear, causing brake dust, although some as you say will be better than others of course, in this respect.

Re cleaning - do yourself a massive favour and invest in Sonax FULL EFFECT wheel cleaner.
It comes in 500ml bottles but at around £15+ it can be expensive. Top tip is to buy the 5ltr version which can then be decanted into any suitable spray bottle, giving around 10 bottles. This works out at around £5- £6 each.

This product is non acidic, 100% acid free and safe on hands and paintwork, brake dust liquefies and falls away, see video here.......

Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner - Audi Q7 21 inch S-Line ...

Please note, you can simply spray wait 5 mins or so and then powerwash for good results. Personally the user applies way too much, I simply spray a small amount and wait, then use a wheel brush for amazing results


Best wheel cleaner on the market bar none!
Jim

 

Ha ! Jim beat me to it.

Pads are softer than discs. If you start going to things like ceramic pads and stuff then the upshot will be that your discs will wear faster. On some very high performance cars discs only last as long as one set of pads

I'll put up with black dust !

 

Yes sir I understand your approach. I'm cheap and don't want to wear out the discs and incur expenses any sooner than necessary. I must balance that with the fact that I'm also lazy and will pay up to avoid the weekly wheel washing

So on to it. Fraser, I was unable to locate any Akebono vendors in the UK. Best shot is to find a U.S. vendor (Ebay) who will ship international, but of course the shipping cost could be killer. This one would cost you about $40 US to ship.
Akebono EUR938 Front Ceramic Brake Pads | eBay

 

I own several cars including Bentley, Mercedes, Super 8 & STR Jags, all with chrome rims and zero dust ceramic pads. It's a full time effort keeping all cars in show condition.
I do all detailing myself since I want the best with no excuses.
The best and only way to keep chrome rims in show condition is to use a high pressure washer on them at least 2x a week. By far, the least effort to get into all the nooks and crannies without any chemicals or soaps and maintain a mirror look finish. Dry them with a leaf blower or hand wipe down with Eagle's Wipe & Shine Nano Wax. Takes less than 5 minutes for ea car. A real back saver and head turner effort.

 

Centric disagrees with you.

They have charts of each type of pad, and in comparing
semi-metallic with ceramic, the ceramic doesn't stop quite
and wears the rotor less as compared to the semi-metallic.

 

Well, we're off on a weeks jaunt with the TF tomorrow, into the moors of County Durham and Northumberland. So this problem will have to wait till I get back, and anyway it isn't urgent, (yet). Its just the bending down and kneeling to do a thorough cleaning that gets me. I'm no longer a young man !

 

Get one of these helps cleaning wheels frazer Buy Slim's Detailing Adjusting Mechanical Stool | Automotive Tools & Equipment |

 

I used to be very **** about keeping my wheels clean, but I gave that up when I realized how futile it is. No matter what kind of pad I use, the wheels will still be dirty again tomorrow, along with the rest of the car. Something about the air in LA...the Jag is brown again within a day or two of commuting. So I give it a wash every week, but I don't go crazy trying to clean every nook and cranny.